Fuel-feeding means for internal-combustion engines



I. TWOMBLY. FUEL FEEDING MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICA'I'ION FILED MAN. 4, I919. RENEWED JUNE 1,437,281.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

III/VENTOR Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

UNITED STATES 1,437,281 PATENT OFFICE.

. WILLARD IRVING TWOMBLY, OF NEWARK, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ACMEACCESSORIES CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FUEL-FEEDING MEANS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES. Application filedMarch 4, 1919, Serial No. 280,674. Renewed June 5, 1922. Serial No.565,894.

reservoir the fue is delivered from the usual supply tank located at apoint either above or below the engine, and it is the primary object ofthe invention to provide improved means for this purpose which aresimple and cheap in constructlon comprising a few number of parts andone in which the constant and eflicient operation thereof is assured.

It is a further object of the invention to provide fuel feeding systemof this character in which a pump is utilized to draw the fuel from thesupply tank and deliver it to an auxiliary reservoir, improvedmeans tocon' trol the delivery of fuel to the reservoir and to maintain the fuelbelow a predetermined level in the reservoir.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a fuel feeding system inwhich the pumping mechanism is connected to the engine cylinder andoperable by the engine motive actuating fluid in the engine cylinder,and so arranging the pumping mechanism and reservoir whereby the heatofthe motive :lt'orce for the pump from the engine is utilized to heatthe fuel in the reservoir prior to its delivery to the carburetor of theengine and thereby facilitate the vaporizing of they fuel.

It is another object of the inventionto provide improved valve mechanismfor the out let of the pump mechanism, and means to control the same toregulate the fuel. level in the reservoir.

Other objects and advantages will. hereinafter appear.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle showing in adiagrammatic manner the application of my invention thereto utilized tolift liquid fuel or gasolene from a supply tank located at a point belowthe fuel intake of the engine and deliver it to the auxiliary reservoirfrom which it is fed to the carburetor of the engine. a

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of my improved pumping mechanismcombined with a reservoir for use in connection with my improved fuelfeeding means and sy stem, and showing my improved valve mechanism forthe outlet of the pump into the reservoir, and the means to control thesame ang thereby the fuel level in the reservoir, an

Figure 3 is a plan view of the valve for the pump outlet.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout thedifierent views of the drawing.

In Figure 1 of the drawing I have shown an embodiment of my inventionapplied as a fuel or gasolene feeding means for a motor vehicle, themotive power of which is an internal combustion engine 6 to which isconnected a carburetor 7 by a manifold intake 8, and a liquid fuelsupply tank 9 located at the rear ofthe vehicle at a point below thecarburetor and fuel intake of the engine. The supply tank 9 is connectedby a pipe 10 to suction creating means comprising a pumping mechanismcombined with an auxiliary fuel reservoir (shown in a general way at11), the pumping mechanism being connected by a pipe 12 to thecombustion chamber of the engine cylinder, as through the opening forthe priming cup for the engine, as shown at 13, to be operable by theengine motive actuating fluid in the engine cylinder.- The auxiliaryreservoir of the pumping mechanism is connected by a pipe 14 with thereservoir of the carburetor 7 The suction creating means or pumpingmechanism operable by the engine motive actuating fluid, such as by thecompression and expansion pressure of the engine motive actuating fluid,or during the compression and power strokes of the engine piston, todraw anddeliver the fuel from the supply tank to the reservoir,comprises a cylinder 16 mounted in or integral with a re ervoir 1'7constituting the auxiliary supply reservoir so that the cylinder may besubmerged in the liquid in the reservoir for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed. A piston 18 to slidably reci rocatein the cylinder 16separates the cylin er into a pump chamber 19 at one end of the pistonand a motrve chamber 20 at the opposite end of the p ston. The motivechamber 20 has a port'2lthrough a nipple connected to thecyhnder thepumpchamber, a second spring 28in the pump chamber yieldingl resisting themovementof the piston into t e pump cham bcr by the pressure of themotive fluid after the piston has moved a predetermined distance intothe pump chamber.- The springs,

27, 28 are arranged-one within the other and are preferably 0 positelyspiraled. The pump chamber 19' as'a suction inlet 29, from the supplytank 9 through the pipe 1O controlled by a check valve, shown in i sochamber to the reservoir, said valve com-j the form of aball valve 30opening into and closing outward from the pump chamher, and an outlet 31into the reservoir 17 through a projection or stand pipe 32 'eX- tendingup into the reservoir. The outlet 31 is restricted relative to the inlet10, 29. The pump outlet 31 is controlled by a. check valve 33 closingthe opening from the pump prising a disk seating against the annularflanged end 34 of thej'st'a nd pipe 32 and normally urged to its seat bya spring 35.

ln-operatlon as the engine 6' is'operated the engine motive actuatinfluid during the compression and expansion thereof, as during the fuelcompression and power strokes of the engine piston, will pass" throughthe connection 12, 2t oi the engine with the motivechaml'ier 20 andoperate to force the piston 18 into the pump chamber 19 of the cylinder16 a ainst the action'of the springs 27 28 firmly seating the valve 30to the inlet of the pump chamberand forcibly ejecting any liquidfuel inthe pump chamber through the outlet 31 in the stand pipe 32 into thereservoir 17 the pressure of the ejected fluid lifting or u nseating thevalve 33 and ejecting the fuel substantially as shown in-Figure" 2. thepressure of the engine motlve actuatlng fluid is relieved on'the piston18, as during the suction and exhaust strokes -oi? the engine piston,the piston 18 will be moved into the motive chamber of the cylinder 16by the spring 28, 27. As the valve 33 will be immediately seated by itsspring 35' as soon-'asthepiston 18begins its return movement such returnmovement of the piston imparted thereto by the springs 28, 27 willcreate a vacuum in the pump chamber 19 which will operate to unseat thevalve 30 for the inlet to the pump chamber and draw fuel from the'supplytank into the pump chamber, this operation being repeated duringthealternate movements of the piston 18. To prevent the piston 18 strikingagainst the end wall of the motive chamber 20 with the consequentclicking and, knocking noises there is interposed between the end of thepiston and motive chamber a spring 37 to act as a yielding bumper forthe, piston. The fuel is delivered from the reservoir 17 to thereservoir of the carlmre'toi" by gravity through the pipe 14 i Thepiston 18 reciprocates rapidly in accordance with the rapidity of thereciprocations of the engine piston, andvby restricting the outlet ofthe pump chamber in relation to the inlet thereof the'discharge I of thefuel from the pump to the reservoir is retarded creating pressure in thepump chamber which operates to quickly close and positively maintain theinlet valve tothe pump chamber closed during the ejecting movement ofthe piston 18. i y

The engine motive actuatingfluid during the compression of the sairie'inthe engine cylinder, as well as during the expansion or combustion ofsuch fluid or fuel, is heated, and as it is during the compression andexpansion of this actuating fluid in the engine cylinder that it isutilized to actuate the pumping mechanism it. also tends to heat thecylinder 16, and to cool and prevent the overheating of this cylinder itis mounted inthe reservoir 17 to be immersed in the fuel therein. Theheat radiated by the cylinder 16 also heats the fuel in the reservoir 17and as it is delivered to the reservoir in such heated condition thefuel is: readily vaporized increasing the efliciency thereoit.

- To prevent flooding of the reservoir 17 means are provided. to shutofl' the supply oi fuel; to the reservoir when the fuel level in thereservoir rises to a predetermined level and below thefoutlet of thepump chamber in the stand pipe. For this pur-.

pose there is provided in the reservoir a float 40 carried at one end ofa stem 41 which is 'fixed at the opposite endto a rod 42pivotallysupportedin opposite walls of the reservoir. The end of the floatcarrying stem where it is connected to its support 42 is tormed into adownwardly extending loop as shown at 43, to engage in a transverse slot44 in a boss extending up from the valve 33 with a pin 45 extendingtransversely of the boss slot 44 and through the opening inthe loop 43.The spring 35 is confined between the float sup iiort 42 and thevalve'bo'ss and normally urges the valve l l U 33 to the end of thepipe, and the valve is adapted to be opened by being moved against theaction of such spring as the fuel is discharged from the pump chamber bythe-piston 18. The valve 33 also has sliding movement on its seatlaterally of the stand pipe to connect the outlet of the pump chamberwith the reservoir to prevent creation of suction in the pump chamber.With the float in the full line position shown in Figure 2 the valvedisk is maintained in the position shown in full lines. However, as thefuel level rises in the reservoir substantially to the position shownwith the float moved to the dotted line position such rising of thefloat will impart lateral movement to the valve 33 to substantially theposition shown in dotted lines causing a recessed portion 47 in thevalve to uncover the outlet 31 in the stand pipe, the valve being maintained in this position until the level of the liquid is again loweredby the discharge of the fuel from the reservoir 17 to the carburetor.While the valve is open the reciprocation of the piston 18 Will draw airfrom and again discharge it into the reservoir, such air impairing thesuction or preventing the creating of a vacuum in the pump chamber withthe result that the inlet valve 30 for the inlet of the pump chamberthrough the supply pipe will not be opened.

Having thus described my invention, I claini:

1. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a carburetor connected to the fuel intake of the engineand a liquid fuel tank, of a reservoir having a projection extendingthereinto and an outlet connected to the carburetor; suction creatingmeans having a suction inlet from the tank and a valved outlet throughsaid projection tocontrol the delivery of the fuel from the tank to thereservoir; and means to maintain the fuel level .in the reservoir belowthe outlet in the projection extending into the reservoir.

2. In. fuel feeding means for internal co1nbustion engines, thecombination with. a carburetor connected to the fuel intake of theengineiand a liquid fuel tank, of a reservoir having an outlet connectedto the carburetor;suction creating meanshaving a suction inlet from thetank and an outlet into the reservoir; and means to open the outlet fromthe suction means to the reservoir when the fuel reaches a predeterminedlevel in the latter, below that of said outlet.

8. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a liquid fueltank, of a reservoir having an outlet; apump chamber having a suction inlet from the tank and a restrictedvalved outlet in a portion projecting up into the from the tank to thereservoir; and means to maintain the fuel level in the reservoir belowthe outlet in the portion projecting into the reservoir for the purposespecified. 4;. In liquid fuel feeding means for internalcombustionengines, the combination with a liquid fuel tank and a carburetor of areservoir from which the fuel is fed to the reservoir of the carburetor;a pump having a suction inlet from the tank and a valved outlet into thereservoir; and means operable by the rising fuel level in the reservoirto maintain the fuel level below the outlet of the pump into thereservoir for the purpose specified;

5. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a liquid fuel tankand a carburetor of a reservoir fromwhich the fuel is fed to the carburetor; a pump having a suction inletfrom the tank and a valved outlet into the reservoir; and means operablewhen the fuel reaches a predetermined level in the reservoir to shut offthe delivery of fuel by the pump and maintain the fuel level below theoutlet of the pump in the reservoir for the purpose specified.

6. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a liquid fuel tank and a carburetor of a reservoir fromwhich the fuel is fed to the carburetor said reservoir having a standpipe; a pump having a suction inlet from the tank and an outlet in saidstand pipe; a valve normally. yieldingly urged to position to close theoutlet of the pump in the stand pipe; and means to operate the valvewhen the fuel reaches a predetermined level in the reservoir below theoutlet of'the stand pipe to maintain an open connection between thereservoir and pump and shut off the supply of fuel by the pump to thereservoir for the purpose specified.

7. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a liquid fuel. tank and a carburetor of reservoir fromwhich the fuel fed. to the carbu retor said reservoir having a standpipe; a pump having a suction inlet froin the tank and an outlet in saidstand pipe; a valve normally urged to position to close the outlet ofthe pump in the pipe; and a float in the reservoir operable to open andmaintain communication between the pump and reservoir when the fuelreaches a predetermined level in the reservoir below the outlet of thepipe for the purpose specified.

8. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a liquid fuel tank and a carburetor of a 1 fed tothereservoir from which the fuel is carburetor said reservoir having astand pipe; a pump having a suction inlet from the tank and a restrictedoutlet in said stand pipe; a pivoted float carrying support; and

liquid fuel tank and a carburetor of a reservoir from which the fuel isfed to the carburetor said reservoir havlng a stand pipe; a pump havinga suction inlet from the tank and a restricted outlet in .said standpipe;

a pivoted float carrying support; a valve to close the outlet of thepipe adapted-to open and close the outlet by a bodily movement towardand away from the end of the pipe in a direction in line wit'hthe outletand laterally of the pipe for the purpose specified. v i

'10. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a liquid fuel tankand a carburetor of a reservoir fromwhich the fuel is fedto the car- I buretor said reservoir having a standpipe;

a pump having a suction inlet from the tank and a restrictedoutlet insaid stand pipe; a pivoted float carrying support; a disk valve carriedby the float support to engage the outer end of the pipe to close theoutlet therein, and adapted to open and close the outlet by a movementtoward and away from the end of the pipe in a direction in line with theoutlet and laterally of the pipe; and a spring to yieldingly urge thevalve toward the-end of the plpe to close the outlet and adapted to beunseated against the action of the spring by the pressure of the fuelvdelivered by the pump.

11. In fuel feeding means for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a fuel tank, and a carburetor of a reservoir from whichthe fuel. islfed to the carburetor said reservoir having a standpipe; apump having a suction inlet from the tank and a restricted outlet insaid stand pipe; a pivotally supported float in the reservoir; a diskvalve carried by the float support to engage the outer end of the pipeto close the outlet therein, and adapted to open and close the outlet bya movement toward and away from the end of the pipe'in a direction inline with theoutlet and laterally of the pipe; and a spring toyieldingly urge the valve toward the end of the pipe to close the outletand adapted to be unseated against the action of the spring by thepressure of the fuel delivered by the pump, said valve having a recessedportion and adapted to have lateral movement imparted thereto to. placesaid recess in register with the pipe outlet by the float as the fuelrises to a predetermined levelin the reservoirbelow the outlet inthepipe for the purpose specified.

12. In liquid fuel feeding means for in ternal combustion engines thecombination I with a liquid fuel tank and a carburetor of areservoirfrom which the fuel is fed to the carburetor said reservoirhaving" a stand pipe; a pump the cylinder of which is arranged to besubmerged in the fuel in the reservoir; a suction inlet tothe-pump fromthe tank; arestricted outlet forthe pump into the reservoir in saidstand pipe; a float in the reservoir; a pivotal support for the float; adisk valve, carried by said float support to engage with the end ofthestand pipe toclose the outlet of the pump and to have movementtoward andaway from the end of the pipe; a spring to urge the valve to the end ofthe pipe to close the outlet, said valve being adapted to be unseated bythe pressure of the fuel delivered by the pump, and to have movementimparted thereto laterally of the pipe to uncover the outlet therein bymovement imparted to the float support by the float when the fuelreaches a predetermined level .in the reser-, voir below the outlet ofthe pipeto, control the delivery of the fuel to the reservoir by thepump for the purpose specified.

13. In fuel feeding means for internal" combustion engines, thecombination with a liquid fuel tank and a carburetor of a. fuelreservoir from which the fuel is delivered to the carburetor saidreservoir havinga stand pipe; a cylinder; a rectproeable piston in saidcylinder separatingthecylinder intoa pump chamber at one end of thepiston having a suction inlet from the tank and a restricted checkvalved outlet in said stand pipe in the reservoir, and a motive chamberat the opposite end of the piston open to the engine cylinder,-saidpiston be ing moved in one direction by the engine iinotive actuatingfluid (in the engine cylllO inder; aspring in the pump chamber to urgethe piston iutothe motive chamber of pipe; a cylinder in the reservoirarranged to be submerged by the fuel in-the reser-- voir; a reciprocablepiston in said cylinder separating the cylinder into apump chamher atone end of the piston having a suction inlet from the tank andarestricted valve controlled outlet in said stand pipe in the reservoir,and a, motive chamber at the opposite end of the piston open to theengine cylinder, said piston being moved in one direction by the enginemotive actuating fluid in the engine cylinder; a spring in the pumpchamber to move the piston in the opposite direction; and a float in thereservoir connected to the valve of the out- 10 let'of the pump chamberoperable to open said valve to shut off delivery of the fuel to thereservoir by the pump when the fuel rises to a predetermined level belowthe outlet of the pipe in the reservoir for the purpose specified.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county and State of New York,this 11th day of February, 1919.

WILLARD IRVING TWOMBLY.

